Please note: this is an external event run by the Law Society.
The Law Society is committed to increasing diversity at all levels within the profession. The diversity profile of the profession is changing. Women make up 52% of those admitted. Ethnic minority solicitors comprise 18% of the profession. LGBT+ and disabled solicitors account for 4% and 7% respectively. Driving social mobility change social, is a key challenge and priority for law firms and legal organisations. According to a recent report on the diversity profile of the profession, 63% solicitors are drawn from parents whose occupation was professional compared to 34% of the working population. In, addition 23% of solicitors were educated at UK independent/fee paying schools compared to just 7% working population.
In this event, The Law Society is partnering with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Social Mobility Commission (SMC) to provide an overview of the challenges organisations face in collecting and using the data to shape their social mobility strategy. We will consider the opportunities and challenges in driving social mobility change. We will also look at current good practice initiatives from within the sector. Our distinguished panel will discuss the role the sector can play in driving change, and why data is a key tool in supporting the profession close the social mobility divide.
This event is suitable for a range of members and non-members of the Law Society including lawyers in private practice, in-house, retired solicitors working in a range of practice areas, from commercial lawyers, to public interest lawyers and those interested in human rights pro bono opportunities. It may also be of interest to D&I practitioners and HR/ Recruitment professionals within financial and professional services.
Speakers
Moderator: Paula Kemp, Head of Employer Engagement, Social Mobility Commission
I, Stephanie Boyce, Law Society president
Sian Hughes, Head of D&I, Solicitors Regulation Authority
I, Stephanie Boyce, Law Society president
Sian Hughes, Head of D&I, Solicitors Regulation Authority